Heuristic predictions of RMP configurations for ELM suppression in ITER burning plasmas and their impact on divertor performance

Abstract

A subspace of resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) configurations for edge localized mode (ELM) suppression is predicted for H-mode burning plasmas at 15 MA current and 5.3 T magnetic field in ITER. Perturbation of the core plasma can be reduced by a factor of 2 for equivalent edge stability proxies, while the perturbed plasma boundary geometry remains mostly resilient. The striation width of perturbed field lines connecting from the main plasma (normalized poloidal flux < 1) to the divertor targets is found to be significantly larger than the expected heat load width in the absence of RMPs. This facilitates heat load spreading with peak values at an acceptable level below 10 MW m−2 on the outer target already at moderate gas fueling and low Ne seeding for additional radiative dissipation of the 100 MW of power into the scrape-off layer (SOL). On the inner target, however, re-attachment is predicted away from the equilibrium strike point due to increased upstream heat flux, higher downstream temperature and less efficient impurity radiation.